mething
stubborn got into him. But the Intendant order him rough, and he go. I
can hear madame gnash her teeth sof' beside me.

"When the door close, the Intendant turn to M'sieu' Doltaire and say,
'What is the end for which you play?' M'sieu' Doltaire make a light
motion of his hand, and answer, 'For three hunder' thousan' francs.'
'And to pay, m'sieu', how to pay if you have lost?' M'sieu' Doltaire lay
his hand on his sword sof'. 'From the King's coffers, as I say; he owes
me more than he has paid. But not like you, Bigot. I have earned, this
way and that, all that I might ever get from the King's coffers--even
this three hunder' thousan' francs, ten times told. But you,
Bigot--tush! why should we make bubbles of words?' The Intendant get
white in the face, but there are spots on it like on a late apple of an
old tree. 'You go too far, Doltaire,' he say. 'You have hint before
my officers and my friends that I make free with the King's coffers.'
M'sieu' answer, 'You should see no such hints, if your palms were not
musty.' 'How know you,' ask the Intendant, 'that my hands are musty from
the King's coffers?' M'sieu' arrange his laces, and say light, 'As easy
from the must as I tell how time passes in your nights by the ticking of
this trinket here.' He raise his sword and touch the Intendant's watch
on the table.

"I never hear such silence as there is for a minute, and then the
Intendant say, 'You have gone one step too far. The must on my hands,
seen through your eyes, is no matter, but when you must the name of a
lady there is but one end. You understan', m'sieu', there is but one
end.' M'sieu' laugh. 'The sword, you mean? Eh? No, no, I will not fight
with you. I am not here to rid the King of so excellent an officer,
however large fee he force for his services.' 'And I tell you,' say the
Intendant, 'that I will not have you cast a slight upon a lady.' Madame
beside me start up, and whisper to me, 'If you betray me, you shall
die. If you be still, I too will say nothing.' But then a thing happen.
Another voice sound from below, and there, coming from behind a great
screen of oak wood, is M'sieu' Cournal, his face all red with wine, his
hand on his sword. 'Bah!' he say, coming forward--'bah! I will speak for
madame. I will speak. I have been silent long enough.' He come between
the two, and, raising his sword, he strike the time-piece and smash it.
'Ha! ha!' he say, wild with drink, 'I have you both here alone.' He sn